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Adolf Hitler is made chancellor of Germany by President Hindenburg.
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Hitler breaks the Treaty of Versailles by building an air force, a navy, and starting a military draft. Britain appeases Hitler by allowing him to build a navy 1/3 the size of Britain's.
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Germany retakes the Rhineland, an area on the border of France, by sending in troops. This area was supposed to be a "demilitarized zone" according to the Treaty of Versailles.
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Hitler sent troops into neighboring Austria to "reunite all German peoples," and Austrian leaders gave in to Hitler. France protested but did nothing.
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Hitler wants to take the Sudetenland, a part of Czechoslovakia. Representatives from Britain and France meet with Hitler and Mussolini to negotiate. In the end, France and Britain give in to Hitler to avoid war.
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Hitler wants the city of Danzig back and also demands a railroad and highway going from Germany to Danzig. Britain and France do nothing but know a war could come soon.
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Hitler ignores the agreement made at the Munich Conference and sends troops to occupy Czechoslovakia.
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Hitler and Stalin agree to avoid war with each other. Stalin gains time to continue building his military, and Hitler avoids a two-front war. This also gives Hitler freedom to invade Poland.
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German troops invade Poland using blitzkrieg, or "lightning war." They crush Polish resistance, and World War II begins when Britain and France declare war two days later.